What to Do When You Hate Your Job!

Every day Jackie wakes up and groans at the thought of having to go to work. Her boss is always in a bad mood and the workload is very stressful. The only thing that keeps her going to work is her coworkers who are all in the same boat. She cannot wait until the day when she can give her two weeks notice and get the job of her dreams.

One day she goes into her boss’s office and pitches a wonderful idea. Her boss tells her that the idea is stupid and she doesn’t have time to hear it. The next day she overhears her boss pitching the idea to her colleagues as if it were her own. Jackie was infuriated and on the verge of walking into her boss’s office and quitting.

Instead, she sends an email to her boss telling her that an emergency came up and she has to leave. Jackie was fuming and decided that she needed some time to think. Her family depended on her income, so she couldn’t be rash about any decision.

The next day she went to work and she was still a little bit angry with her boss. She decided that she would confront her boss about the situation. Her boss became very defensive and denied everything. Jackie was discouraged, how could this be happening? What was she going to do?

Obviously, she was not getting anywhere with her current job and she wanted to get out quick. Jackie stressed over the situation for a few days when she finally decided to call a career coach and figure out a plan of action. Over six coaching sessions, Jackie discovered so much about herself and designed a plan to get out of her job and into one that she loves. Two months later and some great effort, Jackie was in a new job and happy.

Have you ever had a job that you hated? Maybe you are still in this job now. I have seen many clients go through similar experiences as Jackie and it always feels great when I can help get them a better job. Here are some tips for you if you are ready to say “I Quit!”

1. Always have your resume and cover letter updated! Opportunities happen every day, so it is always good to be ready to jump when one comes along.

2. Create a plan of action and exit strategy. Before you run into your boss’s office and scream “I Quit!”, have an exit strategy. Take some time to think about what you are going to do before you make any rash decisions.

3. Be patient with the process and proactive with the job search! This is a hard pill to swallow for some because the job searching process is like “watching paint dry.” It is slow and boring. Keep your eye on the prize and stay positive.

4. Find ways to manage your stress while you wait. If your job is absolutely awful, this is very important. A stressful work environment can spill into other parts of your life. Learning to manage this stress will help your mind, body, and life.

5. Get help in the job process! Find a mentor, coach, friend, or family member to help you with your job search. There are many tools out there to help you. Use them! Here is a great book that I recommend called: What Color Is Your Parachute? 2016: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers.

6. Network, Network, Network. Get out there and tell people you are looking for a position in your industry. Send out your resume. Join networking groups. Just get out there!

Final thoughts: Being in a job you hate can be very stressful. There is always hope. Figure out your options and make a plan to make a change. Be patient with the process and don’t give up.

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